Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 02/17/2021

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Small Shipyard Grants
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT’s Maritime Administration grants funding to support improvements to qualified shipyard facilities that will be effective in fostering efficiency, and quality construction, repair, and reconfiguration. Application Deadline: Feb. 25, 2021

Small Community Air Service Development Program
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT program designed to provide financial assistance to small communities to help them enhance their air service. The Department provides this assistance in the form of grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable basis. Application Deadline: March 1, 2021

Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers low interest loans and need-based grants to construct off-farm housing for domestic year-round, migrant, seasonal, retired, and/or disabled domestic farm laborers. Federal Register. Pre-applications are required and must be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 1 2021; Nov. 1 2021; or Nov. 1, 2022

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding to construct, enlarge, or improve essential community facilities which includes qualified equipment. Application Guidebook. Transportation Guide. Loan Guarantees. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Community and Economic Development

Booker T. Washington Fellowship Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA is making the fellowship opportunity available for faculty and staff at an accredited 1890 Land-Grant University and secondary education superintendents; principals; agricultural and/or district level teachers working for 1890 Land-Grant University feeder high schools in two fellowship categories: Education and High School Education and Science. Application Deadline: March 1, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Electronic Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 2021

Rural Community Development Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility or economic development projects in rural areas. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to rural communities with limited staff and resources to build the capacity needed to access USDA funding to support essential community facilities. Funds may be used to help rural communities identify financial resources, improve the management of community facilities, and prepare reports, surveys and applications. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides grants to support education, mentoring and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. Application Deadline: March 25, 2021

Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA is soliciting applications from eligible nonprofits and other eligible applicants to (1) assist in the development and use of innovative activities relating to water workforce development and career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and (2) expand public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities and to connect individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. Application Deadline: March 26, 2021

Rural Business Development Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Application Deadline: As determined by the State Office or through March 31, 2021

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for projects that support strategic regional economic and community development planning. Covered programs reserving SECD funds in Fiscal Year 2021 are: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; Community Facilities Loan Guaranteed Program; Water and Waste Disposal Program Loan and Grant Program; Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees; Business & Industry Loan Guarantees; Rural Business Development Grants; and Community Connect Grants. Obligation Deadlines: June 30, 2021, for all programs except the Rural Business Development Grant Program which has a July 31, 2021 obligation deadline.

Food Safety Outreach Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture offers this program to build upon the national infrastructure to develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Universal Service Administrative Company
The Telecom Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

1890 Institution Teaching, Research & Extension Capacity Building Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture program strengthens teaching, research and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences by building the institutional capacities of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. Application Deadline: Sept. 10, 2021

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 02042021

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

EPA Grants to Support Water Systems Rural and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Grants for technical assistance and training providers to support small drinking water and wastewater systems in rural communities to improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that drinking water in these communities is safe and that wastewater is treated before it is responsibly returned to the environment. Application Deadline: Feb. 12, 2021

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Universal Service Administrative Company
The Telecom Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community and Economic Development

Rural Emergency Medical Services Training Grant
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funding to support rural EMS agencies to recruit and train personnel and purchase equipment and supplies including naloxone. Application Deadline: Feb. 16, 2021

Booker T. Washington Fellowship Program
USDA is making the fellowship opportunity available for faculty and staff at an accredited 1890 Land-Grant University and secondary education superintendents; principals; agricultural and/or district level teachers working for 1890 Land-Grant University feeder high schools in two fellowship categories. The categories are Education and High School Education Fellowships and Science Fellowships. Application Deadline: March 1, 2021

Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization in Coal-Affected Appalachia (POWER)
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
This funding is for workforce and economic revitalization activities in communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries. Priorities include strengthening the health care sector, educational attainment, substance abuse response and broadband. Letter of Intent (Required): March 5, 2021

Citizens' Institute on Rural Design
National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with The Housing Assistance Council
This funding supports downtown revitalization, heritage preservation of land or buildings, and creating public or civic spaces for local identity and active recreation offering two avenues for engagement: (1) Design Workshop communities to receive technical assistance and a stipend towards a community-engaged design workshops, and (2) Design Learning Cohort to join a national network of peers to engage with online learning. Application Deadline: March 12, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Electronic Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 2021

Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA is soliciting applications to assist in the development and use of innovative activities related to water workforce development and career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and to expand public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities and to connect individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. Application Deadline: March 26, 2021 

Rural Community Development Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility or economic development projects in rural areas. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to rural communities with limited staff and resources to build the capacity needed to access USDA funding to support essential community facilities. Funds may be used to help rural communities identify financial resources, improve the management of community facilities, and prepare reports, surveys and applications. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grant and loan/grant opportunities available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. REAP loan guarantees are streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Loan & Grant Combination - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees – Ongoing

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and grants to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs, or to provide training and technical assistance to micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development invites applications under this Intermediary Relending Program for fiscal year FY 2021, subject to availability of funding. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for projects that support strategic regional economic and community development planning. Covered programs reserving SECD funds in Fiscal Year 2021 are: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; Community Facilities Loan Guaranteed Program; Water and Waste Disposal Program Loan and Grant Program; Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees; Business & Industry Loan Guarantees; Rural Business Development Grants; and Community Connect Grants. Obligation Deadlines: June 30, 2021, for all programs except the Rural Business Development Grant Program which has a July 31, 2021, obligation deadline.

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 01/19/2021

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities & Flood Mitigation Assistance
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers funding for eligible activities to strengthen the nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future damages. Application Deadlines: Jan. 29, 2021

Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC)  
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Technology Transitions seeks to support the formation and development of regional clusters supporting entrepreneurs and startups by funding innovation-accelerating organizations that demonstrate the ability to advance energy and related technologies in collaboration with and with the support of state, regional and/or local entities. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021

Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service invites Requests for Proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021

EPA Grants to Support Water Systems Rural and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grants for technical assistance and training providers to support small drinking water and wastewater systems in rural communities to improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that drinking water in these communities is safe and that wastewater is treated before it is responsibly returned to the environment. Application Deadline: Feb. 12, 2021

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Universal Service Administrative Company
The Telecom Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community and Economic Development

Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding opportunity to assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing renewable energy development assistance. Contact State Energy Coordinator with questions. Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 2021

Rural Community Development Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility or economic development projects in rural areas. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to rural communities with limited staff and resources to build the capacity needed to access USDA funding to support essential community facilities. Funds may be used to help rural communities identify financial resources, improve the management of community facilities, and prepare reports, surveys and applications. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans  
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grant and loan/grant opportunities available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. REAP loan guarantees are streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Loan & Grant Combination - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees – Ongoing

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and grants to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs, or to provide training and technical assistance to micro entrepreneurs. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development invites applications under this Intermediary Relending Program for fiscal year FY 2021, subject to availability of funding. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opened January 11, 2021
U.S. Small Business Administration
This program offers new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers funding to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic address job retention and other expenses through March 31, 2021.

Rural Healthcare Connect Fund
Federal Communications Commission
Universal Service Administrative Company provides assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity at a flat discounted rate of 65 percent. Participants can apply as a member of a consortium or a stand-alone entity. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to plan or implement food projects designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and increase community self-reliance concerning food and nutrition. Application Deadline: May 4, 2021

Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, 1/6/2021

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program
U.S. Department of Energy
This funding supports innovative solutions to advance solar in two broad areas, systems integration and hardware, to ensure technologies benefit the U.S. economy and reliably bring large quantities of solar onto the grid using American-made hardware in the installations. Letter of Intent: Jan. 11, 2021

Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to increase U.S. ethanol and biodiesel sales and to lower the out-of-pocket costs for businesses to install and/or upgrade fuel dispensers, infrastructure (including storage tanks and systems) and related equipment. For additional information, see the Federal Register and HBIIP applicant resources. Application Deadline: Jan. 19, 2021

National Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service
The Health Resources and Services Administration offers funding to assist health care organizations, networks, and providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural areas and populations. Application Deadline: Jan. 21, 2021

Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications from eligible lenders for loan guarantees to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. This program is streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Application Deadline: Open

Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications from eligible lenders to provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas. This program is streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Application Deadline: Open

Community and Economic Development

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making loans and grants available to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs, or to provide training and technical assistance to micro entrepreneurs. For application deadlines, visit the Federal Register.

AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is making funds available to support projects between State Cooperative Extension System and private, non-profit disability organizations working in partnership to provide agricultural education and assistance directedat accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming and farm-related occupations. Application Deadline: Jan. 13, 2021

Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project
National Rural Health Resource Center
Technical assistance is available for small rural hospitals and rural health clinics to strengthen their foundation in key elements for transitioning to value-based care. Application Deadline: Jan. 16, 2021

Save America’s Treasures Grants
U.S. Department of Interior
Historic Preservation Fund provides preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. Application Deadline: Jan. 26, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grant and loan/grant opportunities available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. REAP loan guarantees are streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Application Deadline: Grants - Feb. 1, 2021 | Loan & Grant Combination - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees – Ongoing

YouthBuild
U.S. Department of Labor
The Employment and Training Administration is making grant funds available under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for organizations providing pre-apprenticeship services that support education, occupational skills training, and employment services to at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, while performing meaningful work and service to their communities. Application Deadline: Feb. 9, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Application Deadlines: March 16, 2021

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Recorded webinars for Lenders and Businesses and Producers. Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.